Track Cycling: Velodrome Racing and Training Area - Vintage Greg Lemond Le Vanquer Track Bike - What can you tell me? (Picture heavy.)

Over the weekend, I picked up a Greg Lemond Le Vanquer track bike. It's lugged steel, definitely hand-made, but I'm not sure of the country of origin. It's definitely from 1989, because the steerer tube is dated. I've been searching all over the internet, and literally the only reference I can find to the Le Vanquer model at all is an old thread on the Road forum. Here are a lot (I stupidly did not photograph the logo in any detail, but you get the idea).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2277/2263646816_70c1fdb53f_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2111/2263643004_6e5e490c7b_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2109/2262854301_34742a4a04_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/2262852529_ebfeca3eac_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2275/2262854757_54e9104f41_b.jpg
(this one reads "Frame Paint" and "Ten Speed Drive Imports." I suck at photography and my camera sucks.)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2050/2263644900_85e87b42c9_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2040/2263645830_314de26d2a_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2390/2263647964_d0c6a718db_b.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2216/2262859187_713754a1ef_b.jpg

So what is the deal with this frame? A one-off, or something mass-produced and sold by Lemond? I'd love to know more.

Greg Lemond made his first bikes under his name by himself. This looks like one of the first. I think you have a really nice, maybe one of a kind Lemond. Right down to that run in the clear on the lug connecting the HT to DT.

Greg Lemond made his first bikes under his name by himself. This looks like one of the first. I think you have a really nice, maybe one of a kind Lemond. Right down to that run in the clear on the lug connecting the HT to DT.

Yeah, I'm wondering if this is a one-of-a-kind frame, since there's absolutely no reference to it anywhere on the internet. It seems like, with all the interest in track bikes recently, that more than one would have bubbled to the surface.

I now read that the frames may have been made in Italy by Roberto Bilatto, and painted by Ten Speed Drive Imports, but I don't know of any way to verify this. Sounds perfectly legit, though.

Billato sounds right to me. Repost in Classic and vintage or get one of the mods to move this thread. One of the dudes in C&V will know for sure.

Billato also did Giordana frames, I think. So you might compare it against those... it's a beauty though...

according the the sticker on the seat tube it's columbus aelle tubing which was used mostly for mid level bikes. the top of the line bikes used columbus sl or slx tubing.

Thanks for your help guys. I figured out what I need to know, now! I'll post completed photos in the photo thread, eventually.